File uploader ads

[Ramses II CP]

Advertisements on the file uploader page load over the completion page immediately after a file uploads, making it impossible to determine if the file uploaded correctly and in some cases being a general nuisance as well. One of the ads installed garbageware called 'Antivirus XP 2008' on my box while I was unwittingly browsing the forum in a couple of other tabs. Easily removed, but still quite irritating.

I'm using IE7 (The horror!) and XP SP3.

[TosaInu]

Hello Ramses II CP,

You mean one of the PHP uploaders?

[Ramses II CP]

Specifically this one:

http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Up.../pbmupload.php

I started uploading a save for the BC hotseat, then read a few posts in other tabs. When I went back to that first tab it was at some oddball looking advertisement for that garbageware app. Trying to close that tab caused IE7 to error out, and in the meantime that app had installed itself. It changed a couple of things, installed two .exes with random characters for names ending in elfe.exe.

I deleted them by hand and ran Spybot, which gave me an all clear. So not something really nasty, just an annoyance.

[Privateerkev]

I have firefox and the exact same thing is happening to me.

I'll go to the PBM uploader, and my browser gets totally hijacked.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Could it have anything to do with this? Somebody in there mentioned something along the lines of that Anti-Virus XP stuff.

[TosaInu]

It's not doing it on me, some adds are targetted on some countries only though. It's not supposed to be.

[Ramses II CP]

By the way this happened again today after I uploaded a file for a hotseat duel, but I was watching for it and put in an end-task on IE before it could get anything done.

[Caius]

Could it have anything to do with this? Somebody in there mentioned something along the lines of that Anti-Virus XP stuff.

I think it was a joke.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Possibly not. Web sites are becoming more and more exploitable by malicious third-parties. Indeed vBulletin 3.7.0 had an XSS vulnerability contained within it (fixed in 3.7.1 which is the current version we're using).

Having said that, we have been bombarded by new advertisements recently which, I wasn't using Ad-Block+, I would consider mildly intrusive. It may indeed be a site ad, but somehow, if they were visable, I would want them moving down to the bottom of the screen with the other advertisements.

Just a quick suggestion BTW, the Links and Downloads Manager, I believe it has an function for uploading files. Rather than using these elaborate PHP uploaders and the suchlike, you could use that, and then transfer the file to Mizus or another server once it's been uploaded. I think there's a switch which allows you to send items for moderation before they are displayed which could be useful if this were to be done. Might be a little more resource intensive though.

Actually, going a little off-topic here, the LDM has a lot of potential for expansion to include different sections for things which it currently fails to cover. Things such as non-modding tools or links to interesting posts by the CA. It also may be convenient for a moderator to be assigned to deal with broken links and the such like. The system could also be promoted through more of those false forums (forums which are actually links) to appear across the place to encourage more page views.

[OverKnight]

Just posting to say I encountered the same aggressive rerouting that Ramses mentioned. It took me three or four tries to succesfully upload a save.

He's made me kind of paranoid, so I'm going to run a scan when I get home.

Edit: It was similar to the experience described in the thread Omanes linked to.

[TosaInu]

Hello,

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local....php?catid=175 and https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local....php?catid=138 cover non-modding tools. There are categories for clans and games. If someone is interested to add links to sites about, say, comic books, that category will be added too. All members can add links.

The LDM uploader didn't offer what we need. I haven't looked at the current one yet, but I'm sure it can't do all.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi Tosa
By "non-modding tools" I meant things such as a city growth rate calculator or a capital locator. Pretty much as Kekvit Irae and therother categorised here really.

Another thing I was thinking was the posibility of turning the LDM into a bit of an archive as well as a manager for current links and downloads. By this I mean each mod has it's own folder in the manager, and from there two sub-folders. One for links to general interesting items relating to the mod, one for old versions, and one for the current versions. There also is the potential for using the password protection functions to allow modders to upload their private development files and builds into an additional folder if they wish to.

As for hotseat campaigns and the LDM uploader, you could create a category for each game - may be a little work intensive though. Alternatively you could give the Throne Room staff admin permissions in the LDM allowing them to create categories for any new games. Maybe going a little drastic there, but I'm sure that all full staff (moderators and above) are trustworthy enough to be given that responsibility.

The LDM supports a gallery and jukebox/video function. I was thinking that maybe those functions could be used - one for uploading TW videos and the other for screenshots in certain categories.

BTW, Tosa, forgive me if I'm getting a little over the top here, this site is on the AtomicGamer network, and it supports downloads on its sever (like TWC). If the host could provide that, the usage of the old functions based on PHP downloads and transfer to the Mizus sever could be a thing of the past and uploads without the middle man could be performed. It may require additional costs though, so it may be unviable. Even so, it could be possible to use the LDM uploader and moderation function to streamline the process slightly.

Another think I was thinking of was total main-page forum integration. While browsing around, I stumbled across this CMS. It supports integration with the LDM and forum, including skins, and provides pretty much all the features that the main page currently has. I'm uncertain as to whether it would fit all requirements Tosa, but it's probably worth a look.

I'm probably being a pain by now. I think I'm going to shut-up for a while

BTW, download links from the LDM seem to be a little problematic at the moment - Mizus based links just crash to the Mizus homepage for some reason.

[TosaInu]

Hello Omanes Alexandrapolites,

Hi Tosa
By "non-modding tools" I meant things such as a city growth rate calculator or a capital locator. Pretty much as Kekvit Irae and therother categorised here really.

I understand now, those are added to the Tools category now. Adding an extra category and 'double' entries is not a problem really.

Another thing I was thinking was the posibility of turning the LDM into a bit of an archive as well as a manager for current links and downloads.

That's what it already is really.

The org has uploaders to its own server since 2000, the current PHP uploaders allow direct upload too. The PHP uploader to mizus is just a backup alternative.

The file menu also opens an uploader for huge files. Any member can upload files there, 100 mb or a gb are no problem. It's far more capable than the PERL script from the past, though files were around <100 mb back then. Drop me a PM about it being uploaded and what it is and it will be moved to the right place asap.

I've looked at several other uploaders, so far they only passed at first glance. They are mostly also PHP scripts, board integrated or not.

I think only the M2TW patches are affected? https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/local...hp?linkid=1085
allows to obtain the patches from 3D.

The Wiki has its own uploader for images: https://forums.totalwar.org/wiki/ind...Special:Upload

Each user can upload images in his own albums in his user profile.

There is a CMS: https://forums.totalwar.org/

A Gallery: http://www.totalwar.org/gallery/index.php


Full integration is not always the best option.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

I've known about all those functions for a while Tosa and I'm not criticising or citing their lack of existence, I'm suggesting total visual integration between the lot. I'm getting all my information from the LDM manual and samples from other sites. I question things too much, but why is integration not the best option? It provides a consistent layout, appearance and feel across an entire website and allows users to more easily find what they want or need and discover new functionality.

I must query though, with the existence of the ability to upload to our own server, why we need the other uploader (as in the Java based one which involves uploading and then PMing you)? Wouldn't it be easier to allow direct uploads to the LDM or moderated uploads rather than the much slower process the facilities currently provide? Indeed, that is one of the weaknesses of the forums structure which I would presume is discouraging modifications from using our server as a base for hosting and managing their mods.

If everything could be done with minimal amounts of software and maximum integration between everything, it would result in lower amounts of server load, resulting in increased efficency and benefits for all users. There is, for example, a blog system which plugs right into the forum (costs a little BTW) which could be used instead of the highly separate CMS. It may not serve the function of books, but with a bit of BBcode and increase information for/from the writer the forum could be better for that as well.



BTW, just something I've just thought about is the potential for the usage of the attachment system in modding backstage areas. It could be useful for the sharing of files and the suchlike in those areas.

[TosaInu]

Hello Omanes Alexandrapolites,

It provides a consistent layout, appearance and feel across an entire website and allows users to more easily find what they want or need and discover new functionality.

Links to all places are in all modules.

Just the graphic shell isn't everything. If possible: nice. When another module offers more, but just not 100% consistent layout: better.

I must query though, with the existence of the ability to upload to our own server, why we need the other uploader (as in the Java based one which involves uploading and then PMing you)?

Because the Java one is more capable.

Wouldn't it be easier to allow direct uploads to the LDM

Not yet.

or moderated uploads

Moderation takes time too.

Which could be used instead of the highly separate CMS.

It logs the user into the CMS when logged into the forum, together with the Wiki.

It may not serve the function of books, but with a bit of BBcode and increase information for/from the writer the forum could be better for that as well.

Not really.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hope you don't mind me carrying on here - feel free to tell me to shut up if I get on your nerves Tosa.

Because the Java one is more capable.

Sorry to intrude, but might I ask how is it more capable? From a user's perspective, it's the same as the one provided by the LDM - simple box with a browse button and submit button. There's probably something back-stage I can't see, but from a front-end view I can't see a noticeable difference.

Moderation takes time too.

Yes, but clicking "I approve" is, from my perspective much faster for both the user and the moderator than a PM conversation.

It logs the user into the CMS when logged into the forum, together with the Wiki.

By highly separate I meant highly detached from the forums designed for story telling (the Mead Hall). The same, in a way applies to the wiki, whose detachment is a major weakness preventing article publicity and popularity. An interesting solution for that would be to allow users to post links to the wiki in a way comparable to the "moved" re-directs we have now for moved threads.

Not really.

I disagree here, the function which provided a button which went straight to the relevant post could be used to automatically direct to chapters and sections of the story. There also is the "[anchor]" and "[jump]" tags which can be used for linking internally within a post.

[TosaInu]

Hello Omanes Alexandrapolites,

Much larger files can be handled there.

The conversation is the user telling me what's been uploaded (is it a total conversion, a mappack, for which game?). I move it to the right location (that's a matter of seconds) and return a PM containing the URL. Usually I either create a basic entry for the new file in the LDM, assign that to the user so he can update or point to the category.

That may be a nice thing: links in the forum. There's not such a thing afaik, I'm not quite sure about catches and it's possible to create a topic, announce in the first post that you have a wiki or book project running. Then the topic can be used for normal discussions and the wiki/book for a non-interrupted reading.

The anchor and jump tag are still functional? It doesn't replace the book module. The first can be used for a few pages, the second is capable to create entire libraries, multi volume books, and 1,000+ page novels.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hmm, odd, I always thought that the LDM could handle unlimited file sizes if the settings were right. According to the manual, uploads are limited by the "php.ini" file and by the attachment table. If these limits are enlarged, then, theoretically, the LDM should have no problems coping with files of an infinite size. The LDM now also comes with an improved Flash based uploader which I don't think was in the older version.

Anyhow, going back, we didn't really discuss this before, the LDM has the capacity to show categories in a variety of different layouts (Jukebox, Gallery and the default view we have at the moment). As I said before, this could be exploited to merge the TW gallery and allow users to upload TW videos and the suchlike to the .Org server through that integrated structure.

The anchor and jump tag are still functional? It doesn't replace the book module. The first can be used for a few pages, the second is capable to create entire libraries, multi volume books, and 1,000+ page novels.

1000+ !? That's quite a lot and I do understand that a thread cannot hold that without some trouble. The question is though is anybody likely to write that much (or even a quarter of that much)?

Thanks for your time BTW

[TosaInu]

Hello Omanes Alexandrapolites,

This version indeed seems to have nice options, very nice ones indeed.

The Flash uploader works reliable up to 100 mb. PHP can't do unlimited to my knowledge. Kudos to the author to allow bypassing Flash.

It may be an option to do such a thing, have to see though.

1000+ pages, not posts. Both are possible though and you can find examples in this board. That still doesn't make a book, and using anchor and jump to link seems quite a task.